All the King's Men
Storm to Armageddon

by Dave Breese

What is that distant thunder?
Why, of course, it is the sound of war. It is the booming of the
cannon and the rattle of machine gun fire, the roar of airplanes and the
rumble of engines. It is the making of mechanisms which are dedicated to operate in the killing fields and to turning the terrain into a vast
cemetery, reaching as far as the eye can see. That distant thunder is the
echo of the plague of our day and of all time. It is the sound of war.
There is, in fact, no good way to analyze the meaning of history
without recognizing that history is the story of interminable warfare.
With the exception of a few short years, the history of the twentieth
century has been that of wars, large and small, conducted in one place
or another.

First there came World War 1. Here massive armies dug trenches
a few hundred feet from one another. After four years of intense battle
day and night, the war subsided, with millions dead and the front lines
not having moved but a few yards forward and backward. The world
looked at the awful carnage of World War I and said with high purpose
and deep sadness, "Never again!" "Never again!"
But, of course, World War I was followed by 20 years of
troubled peace.

During those 20 years, the world of science aligned
itself with the world of the military. Between them they incorporated
the lessons of World War I and built armaments that were stronger,
larger, faster, and more efficient as killing machines. These soon found
themselves in deadly use once again as World War II broke upon the world.
Beginning with the again provocative city of Sarajevo, World War I became
the staging area, the trigger mechanism for World War II. World War II gave
us armies more massive that ever before, high speed aircraft, tanks that had
been developed and perfected, and especially the atomic bomb. The world
still remembers with a fair degree of remaining astonishment the awful
carnage of World War II.

Nevertheless, the world allowed itself to be divided since those days and
continued its practice of war. This time around, the excuse for war was
ideological, but the bloody results were the same. There came, first of all, the
carnage of the Korean War. Here the troops from east and west grappled
with one another in the bloody plains, the frozen heights, and the muddy
valleys of this hitherto unimportant land. Korea ended in a stalemate, but the
call for war continued.

That call brought additional millions of men to South Vietnam, where the rice
fields ran red with blood and the soldiers of both sides died by the tens of
thousands. It was in the Vietnam War that, for the first time in history, the
American armies were vanquished from the battlefield. Never before had the
flag of the States been dragged through the mud by a conquering army. Now,
however, the world has seen this.

With an understandably more feeble response, the United States then joined
the political/economic conflict in Haiti. This was followed by her involvement
in Somalia. Here Americans died, but no one explained the nature of the
conflict.

There now boils up a new and confusing confrontation in the Balkans, where
the nations of Serbia, Croatia, and Bosnia lock themselves in a bloody
embrace.

This continuing series of bloody conflicts causes the world anew to ask,
"When will it end?" "What can we do to bring peace and the end of
bloodletting to this troubled and foolish world of ours?"

The Coming King

Of interest to all of us is the fact that the world refuses to listen to the proper
answer to that question because the answer is never. Never will the world
come to the end of wars and begin to live in peace. Never, that is, until the
King of the universe returns to impose His program of peace upon the
reluctant belligerence of the world. Until then, we have the Word of Christ as
to the nature of things. He
says, "And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you be not
troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet"
(Matt. 24:6).

Christ expanded on that statement just a bit by saying, "For nation shall rise
against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines,
and pestilences, and earthquakes, in various places. All these are the
beginning of sorrows" (Matt. 24:7-8). So it is that the Scripture tells us that
the world has moved and will move progressively further into an era that will
be literally characterized by "wars and rumors of wars." In fact, one could
easily argue that the twentieth century has been a perfect fulfillment of that
prophetic promise. It takes not a great deal of imagination to see ourselves as
being involved in that awful carnage of war which our Lord said will continue
until the end of this age.

In fact, the Bible specifically foresees a series of wars at the culmination of
history and the ultimate war that is still before the world, that is, in the
world's future. Yes, there will be what we might call the "Ultimate Battle" for
the conquest of earth. It will finally rage across the valley called Armageddon
and culminate at the walls of the city of the great king - Jerusalem. This battle
will involve the nations of the world and will result in one of the most
spectacular events in all of history. Even now, the situation may well be
being prepared for the kings of the earth to involve themselves in that great
confrontation. Before that great confrontation, in fact, leading up to it, will
be, therefore, wars and rumors of wars from all across the world. This
anticipation of Jesus Christ is being, in part, fulfilled in our very time. We
may, however, expect that the frequency and intensity of warfare will
increase as we move toward that awful consummation of history. In fact, it
has already become a truism that no one really understands history without
recognizing warfare as one of its major components. Allowing War

In fact, so obvious will this be the case, that people already are asking anew,
as they've asked many times before, the question, "Why does God allow
war?"

This question is very understandable as we see again the story of multiplied
murder, rape, pillage, arson, and destruction that grow out of southeastern
Europe at this very time. Millions really ask, "Could not God have prevented
this carnage?" "Where is God when these devastations come upon the
world?" "Why does God allow such terrible things to take place anyway?"
Despairing of the answers to
these questions, many have doubted the reality of God to the place where
they have moved into incipient despair. But the question remains - Why,
really, does God allow war? There are certainly a number of reasons which
readily come to mind.

1. God allows war to prevent us from becoming too comfortable in this world.
One of the concomitants of war is the destruction of the social order. This
then turns many an area into anarchy and suffering. The roads are filled with
refugees and the ditches are populated with those who can hobble no
further. Those who are refugees and survive will never again believe that the
world is their final dwelling place. Indeed, it is not. This world is the place of
testing, suffering, and probation for heaven. We are supposed to despair of
the dependability and solidity of this world and never settle down to the
place where we foolishly think that any cottage on earth is our eternal
dwelling.

2. God allows war to teach us the non-value of human and material things.
Each of us is tempted to hold something in our hand,
gold coin, a diamond ring, a treasured friendship, a beautiful home,
lively automobile, or the like. The list is endless of the things to which we
may become attached. The lesson of warfare is that no human thing has
within itself, intrinsic value. The loot that the armies of Napoleon took from
Moscow became fatal impediments before their final escape from the snows
of Russia and the armies of Marshall Kudichev. All values are relative in this
world, but alas, this lesson has been learned by but a few. Too many people
die clutching worthless diamonds. Because of those diamonds, they have
neglected to place their ultimate trust in Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

3. God allows war to prove the futility of human solutions. We are certainly
moving into the day of "autonomous man." Presumptuous humanity is
saying, "Evolution has brought us to the place where now we can control
our own evolution. We, therefore, are smart enough, strong enough,
insightful enough to master the future. Destiny is in our hands and we will
bring to pass a better than ever society. This boast of humanity will certainly
mature into the fulfillment of the truism of Scripture, "There is a way that
seemeth right unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Prov.
14:12).
Adolf Hitler preached to the world about the master race and how he would
produce of the Germanic people a One-Thousand-Year Reich that would rule
the world into the future. That plan expired when Hitler put a bullet through
his head. It went up in the smoke of burning corpses in the collapsing city of
Berlin.
In our time it is totally incredible the way the doctrine of human confidence is
preached to the exclusion of any confidence toward God. The utter futility of
human solutions is proved with great clarity in the ashes of warfare.

4. God allows warfare to show the results of human sin. The Scripture says,
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and
so death passed upon all men, for all have sinned" (Rom. 5:12). The entrance
of sin into the world through the disobedience of Adam produced immediate
spiritual death and ultimate physical death. It is, therefore, true that every
human thing in the world is infected by this dreadful disease called "sin."
Every plan is warped, every conversation is tainted, every hope is subverted
because of sin. Therefore, every person has become a conspirator against
God. Apart from faith in Jesus Christ, the entire human race has been so
reprobated by sin that nothing of good consequence can be produced by it.
Many times, however, the despair of war has produced a revival of spiritual
interest, and many turning - having despaired of all of the things - to Jesus
Christ.

5. God allows war to force us to trust in Him alone. Few pieces of advice are
more valid in life - and should be given to everyone than the words of
Solomon, "Trust in the Lord With all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own
understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy
paths" (Prov. 3:5-6). Both the Bible and life teaches with sparkling clarity the
absolute wisdom of this heavenly admonishment. Trusting in men is always a
mistake and trusting in the Lord is never done in vain. The world, of course,
does not believe this and constantly turns to its own solutions, its own
weapons, its own plans to work out its problems. Up until now the world has
produced zero good results from this course. Nor will that change until faith
in man is turned into faith into God. Faith in man is shown to be hollow
mockery by the devastations of war. Until that faith changes, those
devastations will continue. God has promised us this.
For want of learning these lessons, the Bible teaches that a most turbulent
scenario will come upon the world. As we look into the Word of God, we can
learn a number of lessons in the sequence of bloody events that come under
the heading of "Armageddon." That set of events should be soberly
contemplated by every person who lives in this era of grace. They will come
to pass during that period of time called the "Tribulation," which will be
that set of events taking
place in these seven years immediately after the rapture of the Church. First
of all, the world will come to the point of a violent rebellion against God.

The Raging Nations

Some of the most astonishing words in the entire Bible are found in the
words of the Psalmist, "Why do the nations rage, and the peoples imagine a
vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel
together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break
their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us" (Ps. 2:1-3).

Here the Lord himself is speaking and He is doing so with a degree of
astonishment. The picture, which would be humorous if it weren't so very
tragic, is before us. The nations of the world, all of them, imagine a vain
thing. That vain thing is that the nations, in their rage, believe that they can
win a war against God himself. It is as if a few tiny ants on the ground were to
pick a fight with the intention of winning against a grown human being. It is
like a tiny chicken coming up against a great lion and swearing that he will do
away with that lion. The picture is quite inconceivable and, therefore, we
have this statement, "He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; and the Lord
shall have them in derision" (Ps. 2:4).

The ridiculousness of this picture is enhanced by the Scripture statement,
"The rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his
anointed" (Ps. 2:2). So, here we have not a frivolous decision or the emotion
of a moment. Here we have the best thoughts of rulers, sinful man, imagining
the impossible. We are thereby reminded of the complete corruption, to the
point of irrationality, that will have taken over in the minds of the rulers of
earth.

In their counsels together, the rulers say, "Let us break their bands asunder,
and cast away their cords from us" (Ps. 2:3). So the leadership of the world
decides to disconnect itself with reality, with sanity, yes, with God himself.

So the nations of the world march against Israel and against the city of
Jerusalem, with the intent of doing battle not merely with the Jews, but with
God.

Why does this take place? Yes, why do the nations rage? What strange
insanity is taking over in the minds of men so that they aspire to accomplish
the preposterous?

Could it be that their gods have failed them? From across the world we have
the pitiful picture of millions of people bowing before
pagan idols of wood and stone. Dropping into progressive insanity, they
believe that those gods will help. Can we imagine that there will come a time
of disillusionment when a world realizes that it has worshiped gods that are
false and failing? Most of us would be angry if we suddenly realized we had
put all of our time and money into a thankless situation. We would certainly
rage against someone.

Could it be that the world's philosophies have proved false? The world today
pretends at sophistication and announces that it believes in existentialism,
humanism, secular optimism, or a dozen of the other empty philosophies
going in our time. Never realizing that it has been ruled from the grave of
false philosophers who are dead, the world has suddenly realized that it has
been tricked into believing in these men. Philosophy generally is interesting
talk that produces a bad outcome. For these and many other reasons, the
world could, by this time, become disillusioned. Then God says, "Then will I
speak unto them in my wrath and vex them in my great displeasure" (Ps. 2:5).

What possibly could deceive the kings of the earth into moving against God
in this hopeless battle? The only answer is satanic deception.
Indeed, this is what the Scripture teaches concerning the prelude to
Armageddon.

And I saw three unclean spirits, like frogs, come out of the mouth of the
dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false
prophet. For they are the spirits of demons, working miracles, that go forth
unto the kings of the earth, and of the whole world, to gather them to the
battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief Blessed is
he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see
his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew
tongue Armageddon (Rev. 16:13-16).

Yes, demonic miracles will be a part of the delusion that will come upon the
world in that day.
Reading this, we dare to ask the question, "Are we living in a time in which
too much traffic is being made of so-called miracles? We are not told in the
Word of God that miracles are always a divine thing. The Antichrist and the
false prophet will be able to work miracles and, indeed, they will do this.
Miracles are intended to certify the truth of an apostolic speaker. They are
never given for the simple
purpose of amazing people or beguiling them out of their good sense. Let us
also note that when the armies of earth move into World War, finishing in
Armageddon, they will have fantastic weapons at their disposal. In giving us
one of the pictures of the last days, the Bible presents the horsemen of the
Apocalypse. The fourth horseman should be especially noted, "And when
he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature
say, Come. And I looked and, behold, a pale horse, and his name that sat on
him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them
over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with
death, and with the beasts of the earth" (Rev. 6:7-8).

There was a time when this prediction sounded fantastic, impossible to any
who read. How could a fourth part of the earth be killed by any known
methodology of those days? That question is now no longer a mystery.
This, because the age of nuclear power has come upon us. In our time,
despite efforts at nuclear non-proliferation, perhaps a dozen nations of the
world have a degree of nuclear capability. Russia has still 30,000 nuclear
warheads - with 10,000 of them pointed at the United States. America has a
powerful nuclear arsenal which, foolishly, is being reduced. Britain and
France are nuclear powers, along with India, Pakistan, North Korea, and
other nations, some of which may be unknown.

Russia, despite its pretensions toward disarmament, is even now buying
nuclear weapons from the Ukraine and aircraft delivery systems as well. This
seems like a strange behavior for a nation that is now calling for peace and
nuclear reduction.

By the time the scenario of the Revelation matures, it speaks in a most
interesting fashion.

And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that
sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone; and
the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions, and out of their mouths
issued fire and smoke and brimstone. By these three was the third part of
men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued
out of their mouths (Rev. 9:17-18).

Here again we have an astonishing prophecy which could not be interpreted
years ago but now is predicting military equipment unprecedented in history.
Along this very line, a recent Jerusalem Post article reported:

The Armored Corps last week unveiled the Baz-2 fire-control system, which
revolutionizes tank gunnery, especially mobile firing and target detection.
The Baz-2, developed mainly by El-Op, is installed on Merkava-3 tanks,
considered the world's best main battle-tank.

The all-weather day and night system enables the commander and gunner to
lock on a fixed or moving target while the Merkava itself is moving. The
acquired target remains locked in the gun sight regardless of its own or the
Merkava's movement.

The system links the tank's hydraulic turret controls to the main computer
system, which follows the target until it is destroyed. The hydraulic
stabilizing system nullifies the tank's vibrations on rugged terrain.

"This represents a tremendous qualitative leap forward," OC Armored Corps
Brig.-Gen. Dovik Tal said at the Armored Corps memorial in Latrun, where the
system was displayed.

So we see that high-tech, combined with military development, is producing
weapons that render obsolete those being used in warfare up until now. We
cannot doubt that "progress" in armament will continue. Are we really
speaking about great numbers of men participating in the battles of
Armageddon? We receive part of the answer by looking further into the
Book of the Revelation.

And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the
golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the
trumpet, Loose the four angels who are bound in the great river, Euphrates.
And the four angels were loosed, who were prepared for an hour, and a day,
and a month, and a year, to slay the third part of men. And the number of the
army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand; and I heard the
number of them (Rev. 9:13-16).

In parallel fashion, the Scripture says, "And the sixth angel poured out his
bowl upon the great river, Euphrates, and its water was dried up, that the way
of the kings of the East might be prepared" (Rev. 16:12).

An awesome picture is before us! The kings of the earth move to that great
battle with an army of two hundred million. This will be the largest number of
men ever to have been assembled in an army group. Two hundred million men
exceeds the population of most entire countries in the world. Is there a nation,
however, that could produce such an army? The answer, of course, is China.

The Kings of the East

With this in mind, we recall that the founder of Communist China, Mao Tse
Tung, during the awful days of his reign, promised that China would
participate in the battle of the world. He said that when it happens, China
would bring to the field an army of 50 million. However, before he slipped
away to his eternal non-reward, Mao Tse Tung changed his prediction. He
said that in the battle for the world, China will field an arm of two hundred
million men. It is surely no
army coincidence that the leader of the largest nation in the world predicted a
figure, a number of an army group that exactly corresponds with the
statement in Scripture. This is not to be discounted.

We also note in the Scripture that the Euphrates would be dried up to make
way for the kings of the east moving to the Battle of Armageddon. This was
thought very unlikely, but it is no more. The fact is that Turkey has placed a
dam across the Euphrates and, with the press of a button, can dry up the river
completely. It has already done this on two occasions and, we can be sure, is
ready to do it again. By drying up the River Euphrates, the armies of the kings
of the east would have a perfect pathway opened for them to move down to
the plains of Jezreel. We also remember with interest that the Chinese
occupation of the land of Tibet produced an interesting consequence. It
became necessary for China to build a highway, stretching from central
China, across Tibet, and down to the River Euphrates. Can anyone doubt that
the way of the kings of the east have been in fact prepared before our very
eyes?

It is interesting also to note that, during the days of the Carter administration,
America promised to assist in the re-arming of China. Is it, therefore, possible
that weapons forged in the United States, via the re-arming of China, could be
useful in the Battle of Armageddon? Indeed, it may be that many Americans
have already labored to produce the devices that will lend their strength of
the final holocaust of the world? A fascinating scenario is before us.

So we see that awesome numbers of men and colossal armaments will be
concentrated in the battle of those days. By this time, the
world will be under of the leadership of that dreadful ruler, the Antichrist. He
will stake his life and fortune on obliterating the very memory of God by
destroying the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem. Noting this, how we
wonder at the question, "What will be the outcome of the great Battle of
Armageddon?" Concerning this, the Scripture says:

And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice,
saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, come and gather
yourselves together unto the supper of the great God, that you may eat the
flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the
flesh of horses and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both
free and enslaved, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of
the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat
on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him
the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived
them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his
image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse,
which sword proceeded out of his mouth; and all the fowls were filled with
their flesh (Rev. 19:17-2 1).

In all of the accounts written of warfare in history, it would be difficult to find
a more stirring account of the outcome of a great battle. To walk any
battlefield is to see the smoking ruins of lives, equipment and the reputation
of nations. To walk the battlefield that will have seen the Battle of
Armageddon must and will be an overwhelming experience indeed. I
personally expect to walk on that battlefield. The Battle of Armageddon will
turn into the supper of the great God. Meaning, of course, that the triumph of
Jesus Christ, the King of all kings, will be universal and unassailable that day.

The Battle's Finale

What will be the actual event that precisely brings an end to the Battle of
Armageddon? That event is also beautifully described for us in Scripture:

And I saw heaven opened and, behold, a white horse;
and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness
he doth judge and make war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on his
head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but
he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood; and his name
is called The Word of God. And the armies that were in heaven followed him
upon white horses, clothes in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his
mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations, and he
shall rule them with a rod of iron; and he treadeth the winepress of the
fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on
his thigh a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS" (Rev.
19:11-16).

What have we here? It is the picture of the second coming of Jesus Christ. It
is the gripping presentation of His glorious return. He comes back from
heaven with power and great glory and we note that His first item of
business is to win the Battle of Armageddon. Does He win that battle? Yes,
indeed. He does it with a sharp sword that precedes out of His mouth. The
carnage is so great that it is described as "the flesh of captains, and the flesh
of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of them that sit on them, and the
flesh of all men, both free and enslaved, both small and great" (Rev. 19:18).
The conclusion of the Battle of Armageddon will be a confrontation so
devastating that the army opposing God is obliterated. The armies
accompanying Jesus Christ in that re-invasion of earth are totally victorious.

A vital truth is expressed in this account that needs to be noted by every
true believer. The armies that come from heaven with Christ - who are they?
Jude answers this question by quoting Enoch's prophecy, "Behold, the Lord
cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all and to
convict all that are ungodly among them" (Jude 14-15). So we have it, the
army that returns with Jesus Christ is composed of the saints of God.

Who is a saint? A saint is "hagios. " That word in the New Testament
Scripture applies to every person who is a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, the army of the saints is composed of believers, Christians who
have become holy by imputed righteousness.

Who then will deliver the world from the dreadful clutch of Satan and bring
liberation from sin along with Jesus Christ? It is the
saints, Christians, the Church, the Body of Christ. Yes, the physical, the
actual triumph of good over evil will be produced by that army from heaven,
under the leadership of the Lord Jesus and composed of sergeants,
lieutenants, captains, colonels, and generals who are believers in the Son of
God. Yes, some faithful saints seen in church on Sunday may in that day be
wearing the armor of light, be a deliverer of the world from the captivity of
Satan.

The Kingdom Comes

What will the Battle of Armageddon bring to pass? It will bring the end of
that period of time called the great Tribulation and it will usher in the reign
of Jesus Christ. Satan will be deposed and the Day of the Kingdom will come
to pass in the world.

And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the
bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon,
that old serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him a thousand
years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal
upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand
years should be fulfilled; and after that he must be loosed a little season
(Rev. 20:1-3).

It's at this point that the kingdom of God comes to earth under the reign of
Jesus Christ.

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto
them; and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of
Jesus, and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast,
neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in
their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years (Rev.
20:4).

What a difference that will make! Satan is bound and the Antichrist is
deposed into the lake of fire. No more will they deceive the nations and no
more will they subvert the lives of people. There will then begin an era that
will be wonderful beyond description. The reign of Jesus Christ over all the
world will now come to pass.

There are many great lessons to be learned in the account of these
marvelous things in the Word of God. One of the greatest is that God will
triumph in history. Yes, there will be many variations in the
nature of the lives of people on earth. They will move between sunshine and
shadow, between persecution and plenty, between darkness and light. Over
it all, however, Christ presides now and will preside in great detail. We can,
therefore, be confident, because God will triumph in history, that serving Him
today is not a mistake. Far, far better it is to die for a cause that will ultimately
triumph than it is to live for a cause that will ultimately fail. The cause of
Jesus Christ is exactly that cause. Let no one, therefore, ask "What is God
doing and why does He apparently pay so little attention to us?" The
premise behind the question is false. God is working with the total of His
divine power every moment of every day to bring to pass those things which
will result for our good and for His glory. There are no exceptions because
"All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are
the called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28).

We must also remember that God has special privileges in eternity and in His
kingdom for those who have served Him well. Paul promised Timothy that "If
we suffer, we shall also reign with him" (2 Tim. 2:12). The promise of reigning
with Christ is so marvelous that it ought to be the object of some degree of
our attention each day. The fact is that this world, which seems so important
to many, is soon to pass. In the meantime, our sojourn in this world in the
Scripture is called "our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for
us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we look not at the
things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things
which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2
Cor. 4:17-18).

Yes, God has told us these things so that we may lift our eyes of anticipation
toward the future, toward the kingdom, toward heaven itself. The experiences
which come to us in this quickly passing world may be many kinds. None,
however, be they the greatest joys or the deepest sorrows, should cause us
to misinterpret the nature of this present moment. It is passing, it is transient,
it is soon gone. This world is not final reality, it is the prelude to reality. It is a
quickly passing moment before the dawn of eternity bursts upon us all. God
has given us the account of Armageddon because it destroys every secular
proposition and fulfills every Christian anticipation. Let us, therefore, reach
forth into the things which are to come and press toward the mark of the high
calling of God in Christ Jesus.